Q: How is the Broncos’ rookie center doing? Unless the center fumbles the snap, holds someone or snaps the ball too early, it is very difficult to analyze the center position.

A: Scott, Broncos rookie center J.D. Walton has certainly been asked to learn on the job. He’s been the unquestioned starter in the middle of the offensive line since the start of training camp and has started every game.

Scouts liked his tenacity coming into April’s draft and his ability to keep battling even when things weren’t going well. Most mentioned how hard he battled Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh, now with the Lions. That’s been one of Walton’s best qualities this season as well.

However, defenses have certainly taken their swing at him, rushing hard up the middle, showing him looks and stunts he may not have seen before with the kind of athletes in the middle of the defensive line he didn’t see week to week in college football.

The Titans and the 49ers really attacked the middle of the Broncos’ front with the most success and, as a result, punished Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton.

Walton should expect more of the same coming down the stretch, especially now when every snap grows more crucial for the league’s playoff hopefuls. Personnel people around the league have said over the past couple of weeks — as I polled them — it’s certainly something they would look at when deciding how to defend the Broncos’ offense.

A couple of scouts who have done advance work at Broncos games for their respective teams this season mentioned they believed Walton looked confused at times in pass protection, especially when multiple players were sent into one gap, including when the defense added a rusher up the middle late in the play.

That’s common, though. Center is one of the most difficult positions a rookie can try to play in the NFL because of all he needs to do.

There is also a sentiment over the last couple of weeks that Walton has started to hit the proverbial rookie wall. He’s not alone in that, of course, since the Broncos have now played 13 games, including the preseason, and Walton never played in more than 12 in any of his three seasons as a starter at Baylor.

Couple that with the fact Walton also played more in those preseason games than most of the Broncos players because the team was trying to get him ready for the regular season and there is potential for fatigue.

The “wall,” as much as people routinely say it doesn’t matter, does exist, and it is an issue that will bear watching regarding Walton and rookie left guard Zane Beadles in the coming weeks.

Broncos running back Knowshon Moreno looked worn down at this point in the season last year — his rookie season — and he never seemed to show the needed pop down the stretch.

Beadles and Walton are playing side by side now, which puts rookie linemen covering at least three rush gaps in the middle of the offensive front. They can expect to see some action because of that.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Tyreek Hill had touchdowns receiving and on a punt return, Kansas City’s defense made life miserable for Oakland quarterback Derek Carr, and the Chiefs beat the Raiders 21-13 on a frigid Thursday night to take control of the AFC West. Charcandrick West also had a touchdown run for the Chiefs (10-3). They moved into a first-place...